A new model for the stirred tank reactor

Abstract

A new mathematical model has been developed for the stirred tank reactor. The model assumes a circulating flow, created by the pumping action of the stirrer, and an isotropic homogeneous turbulence in the circulated fluid. For a continuously operating stirred reactor expressions are derived for the conversion of a first-order reaction, the spread in residence times and the distribution function. It is shown that at high circulation/feed rate ratios and/or at high turbulent diffusivities the model approaches the ideal mixer. Correlations are proposed for the circulation rate parameter and the turbulent diffusivity parameter. The mixing process in a stirred batch reactor is evaluated and described as a function of time and location. The expressions are useful for the correlation of some experimental results. © 1962.